How to apply for Request for Quotation for the Provision of Regional Coaching and L&D Services – Framework Agreement establishment

About Norwegian Refugee Council

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations, delivering life-saving assistance in conflict-affected regions. Its MENA Regional Team is investing in a multi-year leadership pipeline that prioritizes national staff and women, making this a rare chance to shape humanitarian leadership from within. Working with NRC means contributing directly to the professional growth of staff who serve displaced communities across Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Libya/Tunisia, and Palestine.

About the role

This is not a standard job—it's a call for companies to join a non-exclusive regional framework agreement to deliver coaching (individual and team) and leadership/L&D services to NRC's MENA operations from 2027 to 2030. As a selected provider, you'll be called upon as needs arise to support the next generation of MENA leaders, with a deliberate focus on national staff and women. The impact is systemic: you'll help build a resilient, locally rooted leadership cadre in one of the world's most complex regions.

A typical day

As a framework provider, your days will vary: you might deliver a virtual group coaching session for national staff in Yemen in the morning, then consult with NRC's MENA Regional Team on a leadership development plan in the afternoon. Between call-offs, you'll manage logistics, tailor materials to different country contexts, and ensure your team is ready to respond quickly to NRC's requests. The work is flexible but demanding, requiring cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to humanitarian values.

Who Norwegian Refugee Council is looking for

• Established company or organization (not an individual consultant) with a proven track record in delivering professional coaching and L&D services in humanitarian or development contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in the MENA region, with cultural fluency and understanding of the challenges faced by national staff and women in conflict-affected settings.
• Capacity to provide both individual and group/team coaching, as well as related leadership development services, across multiple countries (Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Libya/Tunisia, Palestine).
• Strong understanding of NRC's mandate and the humanitarian sector, with the ability to adapt coaching to diverse staff needs and remote/hybrid delivery.

Tips for this application

• Ensure your bid is submitted as a company/organization, not as an individual consultant—NRC explicitly states individual bids will not be considered.
• Tailor your technical proposal to NRC's specific focus on national staff and women, providing concrete examples of how you've supported similar groups in the MENA region.
• Address the multi-country scope: show your capacity to deliver services across all listed locations (Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Libya/Tunisia, Palestine) and remotely, with a clear logistical and operational plan.
• Demonstrate cost-effectiveness and flexibility, since services will be requested on an as-needed basis with no guaranteed volume—outline how you'll manage call-offs efficiently.
• Include a strong past performance section with references from humanitarian or development organizations, highlighting multi-year framework agreements or similar contracts.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your organization's specific experience in delivering coaching and L&D to humanitarian staff in the MENA region, especially national staff and women.", "How your approach aligns with NRC's goal of building the next generation of MENA leaders over a multi-year period.", 'Your capacity to operate across all mentioned countries and to provide both individual and team coaching remotely and in-person.', "Your understanding of NRC's procurement and framework agreement model, and your ability to work on a call-off basis without guaranteed volume."]

Research before applying

• Study NRC's global strategy and MENA regional priorities, especially their commitment to national staff and women's leadership.
• Research the humanitarian context in each of the six countries covered (Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Libya/Tunisia, Palestine) to understand the specific challenges staff face.
• Review NRC's procurement policies and framework agreement guidelines to ensure your bid complies with their requirements.
• Look into NRC's existing L&D initiatives and any public reports on staff development to align your proposal with their language and goals.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you design a coaching program that specifically supports national staff and women leaders in conflict-affected MENA contexts?
• Describe your experience with framework agreements and call-off arrangements—how do you ensure responsiveness and quality without guaranteed volume?
• What is your approach to delivering coaching across multiple countries with different cultural and security contexts, including remote delivery?
• How do you measure the impact of coaching and L&D on leadership development in humanitarian settings?
• Can you provide examples of how you've adapted coaching methods to address the unique challenges faced by staff in high-stress, conflict environments?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a bid as an individual consultant—NRC will reject it outright; ensure your proposal is from a registered company/organization.
• Ignoring the multi-country scope and focusing only on one location or failing to demonstrate remote delivery capacity.
• Proposing generic coaching services without tailoring to humanitarian contexts, national staff, or women's leadership—NRC wants specific, context-aware approaches.